Paul Semenza, an analyst at market research firm DisplaySearch, tells CNET that an iPad mini with Retina display could debut in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

“We’re seeing potential in the third quarter of panel production for a higher-resolution iPad Mini,” DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza told CNET today.

“When would the Mini be available? Could be third quarter or fourth quarter,” he said, adding that the speculation is DisplaySearch’s best guess based on supply chain data.

Unsurprisingly, Semenza tells CNET that his data points to a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels for the Retina display iPad mini, giving it the same number of pixels as the full-size iPad but at a higher density of 324 pixels per inch. He goes on to note that it would be a challenge for Apple and its display partners to pair that kind of display with the current iPad mini chassis at just 7.2 mm thick, hinting that the company may need to increase the device’s thickness somewhat as it did when the full-size iPad moved to a Retina display.

Semenza says that LG Display is the strongest candidate to make the display, but that AU Optronics, Sharp, and Japan Display are other possibilities. Japan Display currently produces the display for the iPhone 5, but Semenza says that the company is looking at getting into tablets.

DisplaySearch’s report falls in line with what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in mid-January, and Kuo has been fairly accurate in the past with his Apple product predictions.

iMore’s Rene Ritchie has also been relatively accurate, and he reports that Apple is set to debut the new iPad mini as soon as next month. Ritchie says, however, that a Retina display “doesn’t sound imminent”, suggesting that an April iPad mini would not contain the higher-resolution display. If Apple moves to a biannual release for its tablets, the company could announce an iPad mini in April and a new Retina iPad mini later this year, matching all three predictions.

Nexus 7 already beats the Mini. The Mini really needs an update to bring it up to par. Course even being overpriced and under speced it still sells because of the little :apple: on it. Build quality is great, but take away the skin you don’t have much left to justify the price.

I know I’ll be hated on for saying that, but it’s the truth, not my opinion.

Except a thinner AND lighter tablet, with two cameras, better battery life, non-stutter scrolling and not to mention the most important part of owning a tablet in the first place, the worlds best tablet app library.

That’s the truth, not my opinion.

Google will come out with a high resolution Nexus first mostly like introduced at Google I/O 2013 in May. Apple will probably be in Oct like this year.

Damn…if Google really makes the Nexus 7 thinner and stuff, that would be nice. Looks like Google beating Apple again.

The whole twice-a-year upgrade cycle seems a bit desperate on apple’s part. They know that a certain percent of users will upgrade no matter what, so it seems like they’re shipping garbage upgrades just because they’re guaranteed a certain number of sales. :/

I think they’re trying to be less predictable in the release schedule.

The whole twice-a-year upgrade cycle seems a bit desperate on apple’s part. They know that a certain percentage of users will upgrade no matter what, so it seems like they’re shipping garbage upgrades just because they’re guaranteed a certain number of sales. :/

In what way is a retina Mini a “garbage” upgrade? I know lots of people wating on a Mini purchase for just that reason, and I’m one of them. Plus, you don’t even know what else it would have.

Nexus 7 already beats the Mini.… I know I’ll be hated on for saying that, but it’s the truth, not my opinion.

No, I’m pretty sure that’s your opinion. The iPad mini is way better than the Google Nexus 7. In MY opinion. Because of the App Store.

The Android tablet experience would have to improve a lot for a Nexus to be an overall better device than an iPad.

I agree.

Most important thing would probably be tablet specific apps.

iPad just kills anything in that regard.

But Google is definitely trying, and trying hard.

As a Mini user, I can’t say that resolution has ever been an issue. I think Apple should retain the current display and utilise a more powerful CPU/GPU.

I hear so many users try to rationalize that ‘it’s not that bad’….but you just KNOW they are all going to talk about how AMAZING the retina version is when it comes out…

Sorry, but your opinion doesn’t qualify as truth. And with at least TEN times as many people buying iPad Minis, your opinion is a minority one.

Having played with both in store. The Mini is faster/slicker in usage and the screen is MUCH bigger which makes a huge difference on a lot of content. The Nexus 7 feels more like a smart phone than a tablet to me.

Then you get to the ecosystem and iPad simply crushes it.

Though at this point I want a Retina Mini. That is just about the perfect tablet IMO (it would be my first). I can see pixels on both the Nexus and Mini when holding it close for e-reader duty. A Retina Mini will be the end of pixels.

I hope the Retina Mini is coming this year.

One thing I dont understand is…

People say the iPad Mini is better than the Nexus 7 because it has a larger screen.

But people want the iPhone to stay 4” or even back to 3.5”.

lol

A big screen makes a huge difference right? Why can’t this logic be applied to the iPhone?

Where’s the 4.5 to 5” iPhone option?

I am beginning to wonder if Apple is splitting the product lines into “Standard” and “Retina””

I would not be surprised if the next product cycles looked something like this:Macbook Air, Non RetinaMacbook Pro with Retina DisplayIpad “5” Retina DisplayiPad Mini Non Retina

No More “Classic” MBPNo More iPad 2

And possibly having the desktops line up something like27″ Imac with Retina21.5″ iMac non Retina

Mac mini with your choice of display , possibly with a “pro” option to replace the Mac Pro.It just seems that apple is shifting towards Retina being a premium option on the products and leaving the lower priced products with standard screens.